Pursuit Specialist

About the Role

The Pursuit Specialist will lead in the management of qualifications, marketing proposals, and interview preparation for assigned market(s). This position supports firm qualifications and proposal pursuits, collaborating closely with technical staff and external partners to gather materials and information required for each submittal by designated deadlines. Responsibilities include assembling and packaging proposals from inception through final product, ensuring compliance and timely completion.

The successful candidate will be part of an energetic and creative team with visibility at all levels within the organization.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal teams and external customers to respond to requests for Letters of Interest (LOI), Requests for Qualifications (RFQ), Requests for Proposal (RFP), Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), and pursuit-related interviews.
• Lead and enforce proposal milestones, including review dates, kickoff meetings, planning sessions, drafting, and delivery, ensuring a smooth production process and timely delivery of a professional final product.
• Schedule and facilitate proposal meetings, compile and distribute meeting notes, action items, and review comments.
• Independently manage the proposal development process, gather information, and ensure documentation requirements and proposal completeness.
• Ensure compliance with RFP requirements and maintain proposal appearance standards.
• Attend monthly business development meetings to stay informed about completed projects, market trends, and other relevant intel.
• Organize client intelligence into strategic concepts for proposals and develop tailored submittals, providing leadership with outlined deliverables and schedule expectations.
• Develop, execute, and produce competitive proposals aligned with strategic business goals and best practices.
• Lead teams through the proposal production process and interview preparation, ensuring timely responses.
• Document and resolve project team review comments and facilitate communication among the proposal development team.
• Draft non-technical sections of proposals, such as company introductions, executive summaries, project descriptions, and resumes, ensuring consistent tone and style.
• Support timely data entry into the firm’s ERP and CRM databases to maintain project information, resumes, final submittals, and marketing resources.
• Maintain proposal records, complete closeout processes, and archive proposals for future use.
• Develop content through writing and editing, and conceptualize visual design elements with coordination from the in-house Creative Specialist.
• Ensure accurate use of corporate brand standards, templates, and documents.
• Partner with team members and management to drive schedules, milestones, and priorities.
• Proof and edit technical and non-technical documents for accuracy and consistency.
• Other projects and responsibilities may be added at the company’s discretion.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Journalism, Business Communications, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Minimum two (2) years of proposal experience within the A/E/C industry preferred.
• Strong writing background and previous experience with proposal or grant writing for AEC or consulting preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of proposal fundamentals and best practices.

Skills

• Knowledge of procurement and RFP/SOQ processes.
• Strong prioritization skills and ability to manage tasks within established timelines and deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign.
• Experience with Client Relationship Management (CRM) software preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strong grasp of grammar, punctuation, clarity, and content consistency.
• Ability to build internal and external professional relationships.
• Self-starter who requires little to no supervision to meet assigned deadlines.
• High energy, positive, professional attitude with superior attention to detail.
• Team-oriented, collaborative work style.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to create grammatically sound, customized, technical written content with maximized readability and a customer focus.
• Ability to execute a lean, quality pursuit process and participate in strategy sessions.
• Strong business acumen with an understanding of industry practices and new developments (e.g., construction process, delivery models, contract types).
• Quick learner, able to adapt in a fast-paced environment and ask questions to develop a deep understanding of the industry and organization.

Qualifications

• Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) foundation certification, Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) certification, or equivalent is preferred.

Work Environment

PEC values a healthy work environment focused on efficiency, collaboration, and quality work-life balance. The work environment is business casual, friendly, respectful, and team-oriented, with daily peer interactions regarding work progress and client needs.

The role primarily involves office-based work with frequent sitting, reaching, and manipulation of objects. Mobility is required, including moving materials weighing up to 10 pounds regularly and up to 25 pounds occasionally. Manual dexterity and coordination are necessary for operating equipment such as keyboards, mice, and calculators. Occasional bending, reaching, standing, and walking may be required.